Lewmar and Max Power are separate companies with overlapping tunnel thruster ranges. Lewmar's Gen 2 TT is simpler, single-prop through 185 mm and widely sold in the US. Max Power's CT puts twin props in 125 and 185 mm tunnels for more thrust per hole and has a much broader retractable range. Pick by tunnel size, voltage and local support.
| Factor | Lewmar | Max Power |
|---|---|---|
| Owner / base | LCI Industries; Havant, UK | Lalizas group; Cambiago (Milan), Italy |
| Main DC tunnel line | Gen 2 TT, 110-300 mm | CT series, 110-315 mm |
| Thrust range (DC tunnel) | 28-280 kgf | 30-325 kgf |
| Best 185 mm option | 185TT 6 kW: 97 kgf, single prop | CT100: 105 kgf at 12V, twin props; CT125: 115-122 kgf at 24V/48V |
| Voltages | 12V, 24V, 48V | 12V, 24V, 48V |
| Proportional | Brushless 24V Proportional Thruster, 140-250 mm | ECO 90-225, 24V/48V, plus VIP ECO retractables |
| Retractables | MX Gen 2, vertical retract, hydraulic swing retracts | Compact Retract, VIP 150/250, hydraulic R200-R600 |
| Ignition protected | IP versions of 110-185 mm Gen 2 | Separate ignition-protected thruster range |
| Warranty | 3 years, private pleasure use (Gen 2 manual) | Check with the dealer at purchase |
| US availability | Major US chandleries plus Lewmar US support | Authorized dealers and service centers |
Choose Lewmar if you want a straightforward on/off thruster that's easy to buy and service in the US, or you're replacing an older Lewmar. Choose Max Power if your hull limits tunnel size and you need more thrust from a 125 or 185 mm tube, or if you want a retractable or 24V proportional unit from the same maker.
First, the thing people get wrong: Max Power is not a Lewmar brand. Lewmar is a British company owned by LCI Industries. Max Power started in France in 1987, moved production to Italy, and is now part of the Lalizas group. They compete head-on in tunnel thrusters, and they take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
This comparison focuses on the tunnel thrusters most owners are choosing between, Lewmar's Gen 2 TT and Max Power's CT series, then covers proportional and retractable options.
Thrust per tunnel size
Tunnel diameter is usually fixed by the hull, so that's the fair way to compare. Figures are each manufacturer's own.
| Tunnel | Lewmar Gen 2 TT | Max Power CT |
|---|---|---|
| 110 mm | 110TT: 28 kgf, 1.5 kW, 12V | CT25: 30 kgf, 1.8 kW, 12V |
| 125 mm | 125TT: 35 kgf, 2.0 kW, 12V | CT35: 35 kgf; CT45 (twin prop): 45 kgf, 12V |
| 140 mm | 140TT: 37 or 42 kgf, 12V | No CT model |
| 185 mm | 58, 65, 82, 97 kgf (3-6 kW), 12V or 24V | CT60: 70 kgf; CT80: 80/89 kgf; CT100: 105 kgf; CT125: 115/122 kgf |
| 250 mm | 140 kgf (8 kW, 24V); 170 kgf (9.6 kW, 48V) | CT165: 185 kgf; CT225: 250 kgf, 24V |
| 300 mm and up | 250 kgf (10.8 kW, 24V); 280 kgf (15 kW, 48V) | CT300: 300 kgf (24V); CT325: 325 kgf in 315 mm |
The pattern is clear. In the same tunnel, Max Power usually lists more thrust, because it uses twin propellers in tunnels where Lewmar uses one, and because some of its motors are larger. Lewmar's 185 mm range tops out at 97 kgf from 6 kW; Max Power's CT100 claims 105 kgf from 7.1 kW, and the 24V/48V CT125 goes higher still.
But read how the numbers are rated
Max Power is unusually upfront: its 12V thrusters are designed to run at 10.75V and its 24V units at 22V, and higher voltage gives higher thrust with a shorter duty cycle. The CT100 sheet shows 105 kgf at 12V and 96 kgf at 10.75V. Its figures also assume a tunnel no longer than two diameters at one diameter's depth, within plus or minus 6 percent.
Lewmar's spec table gives a single thrust figure per model without stating test voltage. So a CT100 at 96 kgf under load against a Lewmar 185TT 6 kW at 97 kgf is closer than the headline 105 vs 97 suggests. Either way, real thrust on your boat depends on tunnel length, depth and voltage at the motor, and that's an installation question more than a brand one. Lewmar's manual sets a 10V minimum at the motor on 12V systems; drop below that and neither brand performs.
Build and features
Lewmar Gen 2 TT: 5-blade prop for equal thrust both ways, sealed leg with no oil reservoir, spline-driven prop, self-resetting thermal protection, plug-together control wiring. Composite gearbox on 110 to 140 mm, stainless on 185 mm, aluminium or bronze above. Ignition-protected versions up to 185 mm. Three-minute continuous limit before fault mode.
Max Power CT: patented composite drive legs on most models, case-hardened spiro-conical gears, line shields. Control electronics with childproof activation, overheat warning before shutdown, a port/starboard reversal delay, and automatic battery isolator control. Bronze legs on the biggest models. Max Power describes the range as zero maintenance.
Both are on/off thrusters. Both are well engineered. Lewmar's single-prop approach is simpler; Max Power's twin-prop approach squeezes more out of a given hole.
Proportional options
Lewmar sells a brushless 24V Proportional Thruster in 140, 185 and 250 mm at 2.2 to 8 kW, with run time limited only by battery capacity, and says it retrofits into existing Lewmar installations. Max Power's ECO range covers ECO 90 to ECO 225 (90 to 250 kgf) in 185 and 250 mm at 24V or 48V, with a proportional joystick, CAN bus and an Android app included. Both require 24V or more. If you want proportional control in a 250 mm tunnel with more than 200 kgf, Max Power's ECO 225 has the edge on paper. Details in our Max Power ECO review.
Retractables
This isn't close. Lewmar offers the Retractable Thruster MX Gen 2 in 140 and 185 mm, a vertical retracting thruster, and hydraulic swing retracts. Max Power offers the flange-mounted Compact Retract (70 to 100 kgf), VIP 150 and VIP 250 electric units up to 250 kgf, proportional VIP ECO versions, and hydraulic R200 through R600 for yachts up to 167 ft. If your boat needs a retractable, Max Power has more to choose from. See Max Power retractables.
Buying and support in the US
Lewmar is easier to find. Gen 2 thrusters are sold through big US chandleries, and Lewmar provides US technical support. Max Power works through authorized dealers and service centers. That's fine if one is nearby; if not, parts and warranty work take more planning. Lewmar's Gen 2 manual states a three-year warranty for private pleasure use; for Max Power, confirm warranty terms with the dealer at purchase.
Which one for your boat?
- Replacing an old Lewmar? Gen 2 TT. Lewmar says existing mounting holes can be reused.
- Stuck with a 185 mm tunnel and need over 100 kgf? Max Power CT100 on 12V or CT125 on 24V/48V.
- Need a retractable? Start with Max Power's range.
- Want the simplest buy-and-service path? Lewmar.
- Want proportional? Either works if you have 24V; compare against Sleipner SEP too.
Read the full Lewmar Gen 2 TT review and Max Power CT review, run your boat through the sizing calculator, then send us the numbers for an install quote. If you're also looking at the Scandinavian and Dutch brands, see Sleipner vs Vetus.
Questions people ask
Is Max Power owned by Lewmar?
No. Max Power's website names Lalizas Italia as the company behind it, and Lalizas announced its acquisition of Max Power in 2012. Lewmar is owned by LCI Industries.
Which has more thrust in a 185 mm tunnel, Lewmar or Max Power?
On paper, Max Power: the CT100 is rated at 105 kgf at 12V and the CT125 at 115 kgf on 24V, against 97 kgf for Lewmar's 185TT 6 kW. But Max Power also quotes the CT100 at 96 kgf at 10.75V, the voltage it says 12V units are designed to run at, so the real gap is smaller than the headline numbers suggest.
Can I swap a Lewmar thruster for a Max Power in the same tunnel?
Sometimes, if the tunnel diameter matches. Each brand has its own saddle or mounting pattern, so the hull holes, tunnel wall thickness and internal space all need checking. A same-brand swap is usually simpler; Lewmar says Gen 2 reuses earlier Lewmar mounting holes.
Which brand is easier to get serviced?
In most of the US, Lewmar, because it's sold through major chandleries. Max Power works through authorized dealers and service centers, which is fine where one exists. Check before you buy.
- Lewmar Gen 2 TT Electric Thruster
- Lewmar Gen 2 TT manual (559231 Iss.5)
- Lewmar Proportional Thruster
- Lewmar thrusters
- Max Power electric tunnel thrusters
- Max Power CT100 spec sheet (PDF)
- Max Power CT125
- Max Power ECO proportional thrusters
- Max Power retractable thrusters
- Max Power about
Manufacturers update their lines. Confirm current model numbers with us or the maker before you buy.